A corpora



March 27, 1928. 1,663,790

w. l. BALLENTINE ET Al.

AUTOMATIC CRAMP PREVENTIVE Original Filed June 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l mmm m March 27, 192s. 1,663,790

W. l. BALLENTINE ET AL y AUTOMATIC CRAMP PREVENTIVE original Filed June 1e, 192s 4 sheets-sheet 2 March 27, 192s.

1,663,790 w. l. BALLENTINE ET AL f AUTOMATI C GRAMP PREVENTIVE yOriginal Filed June 16. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 vMarch 27, 1928.

1,663,790 W. l. BALLENTINE ET Al.

AUTOMATIC GRAMP PREVENTIVE Original Filed June 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 stop; to so effect the change in the control. mechanism that it will be only operative;`

, vention; Fig.. 2 is a transverse sectional View, partly section, ofthe crampmech` Patented Mar. 27, 192%.

WILLIAM I. BALLENTINE AND PAUL n.'

THOMPSON, 0F LA' PORTE, INDIANA, .AS-

^ 'Mon or INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC CRAM? PREVENTIVE.

Original application led'June 16, 1923, Serial No.g64,5,v751. Dividedljand this application filed-.Tune 25,

` 1923. Serial No. 647,610.

The present invention relatesA to tractors i and the like having controlled mechanism for eiiecting different driving operations of Ythe tractor. 4 Y

This is a division of copending application Serial No. 545,751, liled June 1 6, 192,3, for tractors.

Among the Vobjects of the invention are to provide the control mechanism of a tractor with means for preventing the tractor and the implement driven thereby, ,whether drawn or pushed, from getting into an ir-- reparable cramped condition; to .provide forf automatically modifying vthe normal action of the control means wherebythe cramped. condition will not lbe e'ected; to eifect av change in thecontrol mechanism for pref- 'eifably bringing the driving mechanism,

'which may 'becausing the cramped condition, to a non-operative neutral condition or to permit the driving mechanism to remove v,the cramp; to provide means which will allow for wear of parts, such as inthe vclutches of the driving mechanism, without interfering with or modifying the properY operation of the control mechanism; to ypro,v vide meansfor selectively and automatically.

bringing to a stop or neutral operation that rpartof the driving mechanism which is pro-` ducing or causing the crampingl conditionp and such further objects, advantages and.` capabilities as will later` more fullyappear,

and are inherently possessed by the invention. p

It is to be understood that the word driven used iii connection with a tractor driving the implement is generic throughout the speciicationlnd the claims yto mean the tractor either pushing or pulling the implement.

In the drawings illustratinga preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. lis ai top planiview of a tractor embodying the intractorf'and'the control mechanism, together,-

with the cran'ip mechanism; Fig. 4 is a rear end view of the tractor; Fig. 'isa .top4 plan anism and a portion of the control mecha.-

of the cramp and control lugs; Fig. 7 isa side view, in detail, of part ofthe cramp mechanism, and Fig. 8 1s aschematicl view in 'perspective of the cramp mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, vthe invention isshown as embodied in, a .tractor comp-rising a power plant 1, preferably of the internalcombustion engine, supported upon a pair, of bull vwheels- 2, rotatably mounted at the outer ends" of a, pair of'axle housings 3, rigidly fastened Oli-Secured .to the. Sidesfetthe ,engine iframe or bloclr byany si able means, asgbyzbolts 4Q. VAt the rear end of the engine liis rigidly attached a housing r5 within 'which is located tlie power transmitting meansand the control `mechanisifn therefor, `for theA driving of the wheels 2.` `At the rear Lend ofthe housing 5 israttached a hitch mechanism toA which are connected reaches? and 8 of` a drawn implement suitably supported upon an aXleQand wheels `10 `as clearly shown in Fig. l'of thedrawing. vA seat 12 forthe driver may besupported by any suitable meansl'fastened to the drawn implement. A pair of reins ll and'l extend` from the mechanism in the housing 5to the'seat12 where they may be manually operated by the driver on the seat .as willi be later vmorefiilly cixplained. The crainp-mechanism is attached to the rear Gnd of' the housing 5 and extends'into the casing thereof. i Referring now; more particularly to Figs'. 2 and 3 of the drawingstheengine is connectedbyfineaiis of a suitable shaftthrough clutches 16 and 171 `suitably connected to drive gears vliand- 19 respectively Vconnected Wlief-:ls ofl ,the tractor. nisins are ycontrolled by. ai pair `of rein operatedrein drums or'sheayes. 20. and 21 having to the clutch' mechanisms'to control 4their-- operations. The rein drums have rein receivi-ng channels `2 6a-i`1li27 on Vthe peripheriesofthe drums and alsohave brakev cams 'brakes for' .effecting aretanelatin orj stop-A 'operatively to .drive the right left hand i,

4The .clutch .meclia- Y y p-ing of the driving mechanism at the point desired. This is more fully explained in our copending application hcreinbefore referred to.

The rein drums are rotatably mounted upon a cross-shai'tr-SO having its ends supported in bearings 3l and 32 forming a fixed part of the casing 5. To the drums are also connected springs 33 and 34 by means of bolts 35 and 36 at one end of the spring and to a fixed part of the casing at the other ends of the spring. The rein drums are operated in one direction by a pull upon the reins, and operated in they opposite directionv by the s )rings 33 and 34 when there is a letup on tie reins. The reins pass through, preferably. rein guards 37 which operate to swivel in accommodation of the direction in which the reins are pulled, and also to maintain the reins in clean and neat condiion. The rein drums have hub portions 3S and 39 each provided with a Control lug 4() :and 4l, in the path of n'iovement of which are arranged cramp lugs 42 andv 43 projecting from an end of cramp members 44 and 45 rotatably mou'ntedvupon the cross-shaft 30 between the hubs of the rein drums and the bearings at the ends of the shaft 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Fig. 6 of the drawings shows the relative position of these lugs when the apparatus is in normal or neutral condition.

Between the drums is located a spacer 46V secured to the shaft 30 by means of a crosspin 47. At the lower part of the casing 5 is located a control lock mechanism provided with a bearing 48 having a pin 49 upon which are rotatably mounted lock members 50 and 5l, co-operable with pins 52 and 53 carried by the rein drums. The operation of this lock mechanism is disclosed in the copendin g application hereinbefore mentioned.

The hitch mechanism is, in the particular embodiment chosen for illustration, connected to the rear end of the tractor. The forward ends of the reaches 7 and 8 are pivotally connected by means of pivots 54 and 55 to members 56 and 57 which are in turn pivotally connectedV to vertical pivots 5S and 59 mounted in the upper and lower ends respectively of a vertical bar 60. The lower end of the bar 60 isv suitably pivotally connected vto a clamp 62 capable of lateral adjustment along a cross-rail 63 extending transversely of the casing 5 and fastened to it by means of bolts 64. The hitch may be adjusted and fastened in adjusted position laterally along the cross-rail 63 in order that the trailerma-y run at one side or the otherv of the tractor, as along a side row, or it may be fastened Vin the middle of the cross-rail rear upper part of the housing 5 provided a roller raceway comprising a pair of plates 65 and G6 spaced apart by 1n ans of spacers 67 held in place by means of'bolts 68. The upper end of the bar G() carries a rotatable roller 69 adapted to ride between the plates (55 and 66 as a raceway, the plates being of sufficient width to accommodate for the are movement of the roller 69, without the roller riding off of either plate 65 or 66. 1

Oftentimes,rwhen making a short turn or in backing, the tractor and the implement driven thereby may assume such an angular relation to each other as to throw them into a cramped position. To obviate this dithculty the tractoris provided with means for automatically operating uponv the control mechanism, independent of the action of the operator upon the reins, to bring the tractor and the implement driven by it to a stop so as to prevent further cramping. The operator may then manipulate the reins to effect a change in the control mechanism so that the tractor will pull out of the cramp.

The mechanism `for stopping the operation when getting into a clamped position is more particularly shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, and comprises a'pair of bracket members 71V rigidly secured to the sides of the housing 5 by means et bolts 7 2 and levers 73 pivotally mounted upon the brackets 7l by pivot bolts 74. Each vlever comprises a pair of plates spaced apart for the purpose hereinafter described. The upper ends of levers 73 are pivotally connected to links 7 5, the other end of these links being pivotally connected to crank arm 76 fastened to the outer ends of short-shaft 77 rotatably ysupported in bearings 78 formed in the sides of the housing 5, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Each lever 73 comprises a pair of space bars formed at the lower end with diverging portions 79 and v80 so as tgi form an entry therebetween for al lever or contact arm 8l pivotally mounted between the side members of the levers 73 by means of a pivot 82 as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. Each lever or arm 8l has a lower dependingportion 83 whichwill lie in the path of the swing of a reach bar 7 or 8 of the driven implement. lVhen the implement is swung to one side toward a clamped'position with respect to the tractor, as shownr in dotted lines iny Fig. 5 of the drawings, one of the members 7 or 3 vwill hit against the lower end 83 of the lever 81 and move the same forwardly. The lever 8lY will then contact with a spacer 84 connected to and between the side members of the lever 73 and cause the latter to move about the pivot 74 and to move thelinks 7 5 rearwardly thus pulling upon the crank arm 76 and turning the short-shaft 77.

Within the casing or housing 5 is pivotally mounted a cross-bar 85 by means of a pivot 86 h aving a bearing inthe upper wallcof the 'is pivotally connected 'to' ears 93 forming a rigid or integral part of the cramp member 44 or 45 depending on .which side of the tractor the structure is referred to.

' 1When the driven implement moves toward a cramped position, such as that shownv by dotted lines in Figf of the drawings, one of the reaches, such as reach 8, will contact with the lower end portion 83 of the Varm 81 to effect a turning of one of the shafts 77. Assuming that the cram-p .is made on the left hand siderof the tractor and the driven implement a-s shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the left hand lever 8l will effect a rotating of the left hand shortshaft 77 so that the end of the arm 88 will ypin 92 thereof will come in contact with the forward end of the slot v9i .and then move the link 90 forwardly so as to rotate the right hand cramp member 45 with the'pro- Vj'ection 43 carried thereby. The normal position of this projection 43 is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As cramp member 45 is rotated with this projection 43 it will be caused toV move upwardly toward the projection 4l carried 'by .the hub of the right hand rein drum.l During the Sametime 'a left hand arm89 will swing rearwardly until the pin 92 thereof will 'come into contact with the rear end of theslot 91 in the left hand link 90 and then move thelatter' rearwardly, thus causing arrotation of the left hand cramp member 44 with theprojection 42 carried thereby. This projection will move in an opposite direction from the pro jection 43, that is tothe left or clockwise .as

.viewed in Fig. 6 of thc drawings.

The neutral positions of the lugs o -r projections 40 and 42 or 41 and 4 3 Vare shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.` If, therefore, we assume that cramp is appearing on the left side when driving forward and'with the left wheel pivoting and the right wheel turning or causing the cramp, the left hand clutch mechanism will be in non-operative, neutral condition and there is :no driving ee'ct on the left wheel. v'The `left-'lug- 40 .will

prevent it.

lug 42rto move anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig. V6 of the drawings, but the lug'42 cannot travel far enough to reachv the lng 40 On 'the which is in its neutralrposition right hand side the rein 'drum has been i turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed from Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, for the for-` ward driving operation of .the right wheel.v

The right control lug 41 also shall Nhave been moved in a clockwise direction toward the y cramp lug 43, as viewed in Figs. o and 6 of the'drawings. Nowwhen the cramp mechanism operates, the cramp lug` 43 will be moved in an anti-clockwise direction andy arevent 0'oinvfffurther into a cram This is done automatically vwithout any control or operation of the reins by the operator. A letting-up on the right hand rein by the operator will not effect the forward operation of the right hand wheel becausey the position of the right hand cramp lug 43 will Theleft hand cramp lug 42 is so located that it will .prevent the' left wheel from being operated rearwardly shouldthe operator pull on the left hand rein@ To pull out of cramped position the opd` erator may either pull on the right hand rein to eHect a rearward drive ofthe right hand wheel or let up on the left hand rein to 'f effect a' forward drive of the left hand wheel, or both. In the event of pulling on .the right 'hand rein the right control lug 4l will be freeV tofmove anti-clockwise away 'from the stopped positionof the right cramp lug 43, and in the case ofletting up on the left rein the left control lug 40 is free to move in a clockwise direction away from the stop position of the left cramp lug 42.

If, in the above operation, the left hand wheel was' moving` forward instead of merely pivoting, the operation of the cramp mechanism wouldy be the saine, the left side transmission mechanismbeing in operating` condition instead of stop, and the stopping of the transmission',mechanism for the right hand wheel having the` effect of letting the *left wheel pullthe tractor out of a cramp.' f

- It now is assumed that the cramp occurred when backing Yor traveling rearwardly, the left hand -wlieellis the one causing 4the cramplil) ing and isrthe one brought to a stop, the j right handwheel either merely pivoting or traveling rearwardly moreslowlybut toward releasing of thel'cramping when-the left hand wheel `is stopped. rEhe rotation of the cramp lugs will be the same as before. For the rearward drive operation, theleft hand. control lug 4() shall have moved anti-clockwise Y as viewed in Fig. 6 of the'drawingsLso that il [l cramping on the left side.

' when the cramp mechanism operates to move the left hand lug 42 clockwise the latter will move the lug` l() and the parts connected to it 'back to neutral position, and thus bring the transmission mechanism for the left wheel to a stop. This prevents further On the right side the cramp lug il?) is in a position to prevent a forward operation of the right wheel, but the control lug 4l is free to move anticloclrvi'ise. forrear driving operation when the opera-tor pulls on the right hand rein. This will release cramp by a rearward drive of the right wheel. The cramp may also be released by a forward drive of the left wheel. After the left wheel has been brought to a stop the operator may manipulate the left rein to cause a let-up to eifect a starting of the left hand wheel forwardly for this purpose.

Stationary stops 95 (see Fig. 3) may be provided to limit the downward movement of the ears 93, to which the links 90 are pivotally connected, in order to prevent the links and the ears getting into a dead center. i

if there is a right hand cramp the right hand lower reach member 7 will contact with the right hand arm or lever 81 to canse it to operate through cross leverI 85 to eii'ect a stopping of the clutch mechanism similar to that described ahove for the left hand cramp. It is believed that this operation will be clear without further descriptiomthe operation being converse.

The rein drums and the cams carried thereby will have a certain amount of angular movement within which the operating mechanism will. be in neutral operation, or to say,- the transmission mechanism being in stopped condition. Assuming that the clutches are new with .the-surfaces of them of unworn condition, the amount' of angular movement of the drums and cams to effect t-he clutching operation, that is from the position where there is a full clutch-in ofthe clutches to the position where there Vis an unclutching and the beginning of the neutral range of movement, there is no danger of the crainp lugs interfering with the movement, of the control lugs carried by the hubs of the drums. lf, however, the clutch surfaces become worn, the drums together with the cams carried thereby@ will need to he rotated a greater amount in angular movement to reach the posit-ions of full clutch-in. ln such cases the control lugs may travel so far as to come in contact and engage the Vcrainp lugs and carry the cramp lugs along therewith. In this event the cramp mechanism would be operated in reverse direction. lf we consider a straig it forward or straight rearward driving, it would mean that looth links, assuming that they did not have elongated. slots, would cramp.

press in the same direction against the pins 92 and result in tending to move the ends of the cross-bar 85 in the same direction, and, therefore, become loclred on the fulcrum pin 86. This would cause a locking ofthe mechanism and prevent the desired driving operation. ln order to avoid this the links are provided with elongated slots 91 so that the links will have loose play with reto the cranl-z pins 92 and have no effeet in tending to move the crank arm 89 in either direction. rlhere will, therefore, be no locking action by way of the cross-bar 85 and the fulcrum pin or pivot 86.

lf the clutches are worn and when. driving around a curve where one wheel is driving at a greaterrate than another, lack of such slots would permit one of the control lugs to Contact with one of the cramp lugs, and operate the cramp mechanism revcrsely so that one of the depending arms 8l would he swung rearwardly and the other forwardly. In this case if the cramping started to take place tow rd the depending arm 8l eX- tending rearwardly, the stopping of the tractor would be effected too early in the tendency to stop it from cramping action. 0n the other hand if the cramping was toward the other side of the tractor, the contact of the reaches with the other arm 8l would be too late and the cramp might be irreparable. t may be also that the arm 8l might be swung so far upwardly as to be clear of the reach bars 7 or 8 so that the cramp preventing mechanism would never operate although the tractor' and the implement driven by it would be yin a sharp ln the case where the arm 8l was swung too far rearwardly so that the reach hars 7 or 8 would Contact with it too early, it might produce the result of continually stopping` the tractor when turning an ordinary curve not sharp enough to produce a cramp. It will, therefore, be seen from the above that the elongated slots in the links are highly important to prevent these disadvantages. I

lt is to be understood that the foregoing slot features will not be necessary where the cams are proportioned to require angu lar movement from full forward lo full rearward or extreme positions of the control lugs, in which positionsV t-he control lugs will not interfere with the vcramp lugs notwithstanding grcat wear of the clutch surfaces.

Consequently, the pins 9.2 need only lit into apertures therefor .rather than slots.

`While we have herein described and shown upon the drawings a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to heY understoodthat the invention is notA limited to the particular construction, details and arrangement of parts shown and described, but that other` constructions, details and arrangements of parte are ceinprehended by the invention without the parting from the spirit thereof.

ing control lugs, movable cramp lugs ar ranged in the path of movement of the control lugs, movable means connectedv to the crainp lugs and having contact members for engagement therewith of an implement driven by the tractor when going toward a cramped position, whereby a cramp lug 6ooperates with a control lug to effect a stopping of the driving operation of the driving mechanism Vcausing the cramping.

3. In a tractor having driving mechanism and control means therefor, comprising relatively movable members provided with lugs arranged to move in the path of movement of each other, one of said members beingr operatively associated with the driving mechanism to effect a forward, neutral or:

rearward driving operation of the tractor, the other of said members being operatively associated with an implement driven by the tractor whereby when the tractor and implement move toward a cramped position the implement causes said other member to interfere Vwith the first member to effect a neutral driving operation of the tractor.

Ll. In a tractor having driving mechanism and control means for effecting forward, neutral and rearward driving operations of the driving mechanissm, comprising movable rein controlled members operatively associated with the driving mechanism to effect said driving operations, movable means arranged to be'moved by a driven implement when moving toward a cramped position 'with the tractor, said controlled members rein control member to neutral driving control position upon the movement of the movable means by the driven implement whereby the driving mechanism tending to cause a cramping is brought to a stop.

5. In a tractor having driving mechanism and control means for effecting forward, neutral and rearwardl driving operations of the driving mechanism, comprising a drum operatively associated with the driving operations,a reach connected to the tractor and the implement driven by the tractor, a movable member located in the path of movement of the Areach when the tractor and implement move toward` a cramped position, and means connected to the movable member and to the drum and having relatively movable and mutually engageable projections operable when engaged to bring the drum into' neutral controlling position when the reach actuates the movable member. o

v6. In a tractor having Idriving mechanism andl control means for''effecting'r forward,

neutral and rearward driving operations of the drivingpn'iechanism, comprising a drum operatively associated with the driving mechanism-to effect said different' drivingVV operations, a reach pivotally vconnected to the tractor for lateral swing thereof relative to the tractor, anagricultural implement connected to the reach, an arm carried by the tractor and located-inthe path of movement of the reach when the tractor and implement move' toward cramping j position whereby the arm is operated bylthe reach engaging` it, and means connected to said arm ,and to the drum and having relatively movable and mutually engageable projections operable when engagedto bring the drum into-or hold the drumv in neutral vcontrolling position when the reach actuates the arm and thus prevent a cramp.

7. In a tractor having driving mechanism and control means for effecting forward, neutral and rearward driving operations Vof the Vdriving mechanism, comprising a drum operatively associated with the driving mechanism to effectsaid different driving operations, a reach pivotally connected to lthe tractor for lateral swing'thereof relative to the tractor, ain'agricultural'implement connected to the reach, an arm carried by the tractor and located in the path of movement of the reach when the tractor and implement move toward cramping position whereby the arm is operated by the reach engagingit, and lever mechanism connected to said arm and to the drum and including elements movable in a common path and mutually engageable to bring the'diumvinto and hold the drum in neutral controlling position when the reach actuates the arm and thus prevent a cramp. ,Y

, 8. In a tractor having driving mechanism and control means for effectingv forward, neutral and rearward driving operations of vthe driving mechanism, comprisingfa drum operatively associated with the driving mechanism to effec-t said different driving operations, a reach pivotally connected to the tractor forV lateral swing thereof relative to the tractor, an agricultural implement connected to the reach, an arm carried by the mechanism to effect said different driving tractor and located in the path of movement ot the reach when the tractor and implement move toward cramping position whereby the arm is operated by the reach engaging it, and lever mechanism connected to said arm and to the drum having interfering elements operable to bring the drum into or hold the drum in neutral controlling position when the reach actuates the arm and thus prevent a cramp, said lever mechanism including a link operatively associated with the drum for eiecting its controlling` position.

9. In a .tractor having driving mechanism and control means for Y effecting forward, neutral and rearward driving operations of the driving mechanism, comprising a pair of rein controlled drums operatively associated with the driving mechanism for efecting said diiferent driving operations, cramp control means including movable members being normally out of engagement with the drums but adapted to engage the drums when the implement and tractor move toward cramped position, and means connected tosaid members and actuated by an implement driven by the tractor when the implement and tractor move toward vcramped position for effecting a neutral positioning of the drum.

y l0. In a tractor having driving mechanism and control means for effecting forward, neutral and rearward driving operations of the driving Y mechanism, 'comprising rein control drums having control lugs, movable members having cramp lugs co-operable with the control lugs for effecting a neutral control of the-'drums when a cramp is being formed between the tractor and an implement driven by it, cramp mechanism including a movable element arranged to be moved by the implement when moving toward a cramping position and links operatively connected to said elements and said members, said links having loose play to compensate for wear of parts in the driving mechanism.

1l. In a tractor having driving mechanism and control means for effecting forward, neutral and rearward driving operations of the driving mechanism, comprising rein controlled drums having control lugs, movable members having cramp lugs (zo-operable with the control lugs for'efecting a neutral control ot the drum when a cramp is being formed between the tractor and an implement driven by it, cramp mechanism including movable elements arranged to be moved by the implement when moving toward cramping position and links operatively connected to said elements and said members, said links having elongated slots for loosely receiving pins connected to the elements whereby wear in the parts of the driving mechanism may be compensated for.

l2. In a tractor having. driving mechanism and control means for effecting for-r ward, neutral and rearward driving operations oif the driving mechanism, comprising movable rein controlled drums co-operable with the driving mechanism to eiiect different driving operations thereof in diiierent portions oi the drum and having control lugs, movable cramp members having lugs arranged in therpath of movement of the control lugs and capable otengagement therewith ior effecting Vneutral control of the drums when a cramp is being formedbetween the tractor and an implement driven thereby, cramp mechanism including movable elements arranged inthe path of movement of the implement when moving toward cramped position, said cramp mechanism including links connected to said cramp members, and levers connected to said elements, said links having elongated slots and said levers having `pins extending into the slots.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names to this specification.

NVILLIAM I. BALLENTINE. PAUL R. THOMPSON. 

